Category: MLB

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman: Giants can end Padre series with a split today at Oracle Park

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman (26) rounds third base in the bottom sixth inning after hitting a home run as he is being congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams (9) at Oracle Park in San Francisco against the San Diego Padres on Thu Jun 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast:

#1 The San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos hit a double in the bottom of the seventh inning to knock in two runs. Jung Hoo Lee hit a sacrifice fly and the Giants took the lead and went onto beat the San Deigo Padres 6-5 to avoid getting swept.

#2 The Giants had went 16 games in a row scoring four or less runs that was a relief for manager Bob Melvin.

#3 Reliver Sean Hjelle pitched for 2.2 innings in relief and picked up the win this after being called up from Triple A Sacramento on Tuesday.

#4 Stephen didn’t get ask you about former Giants LaMonte Wade, Christian Koss and Sam Huff’s departures and what they meant to the Giants as their numbers weren’t enough to keep them any longer.

#5 Padres and Giants conclude this four game series today at Oracle Park. The Padres are going with Dylan Cease (1-4 ERA 4.66) the Giants are starting Robbie Ray (7-1 ERA 2.43) first pitch 12:45pm PDT.

Stephen Ruderman is filling in for Morris Phillips who does the Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Drop 20th in 21 Games as Freefall Continues in Sacramento; Another A’s loss to Twins 6-1 means 9 game skid grows

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Luis Urias in the game on Wednesday night. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The Athletics’ freefall in Sacramento continued on Wednesday night at Sutter Health Park. The A’s lost to the Twins in game three of a four-game series on Tuesday by a final score of 6-1.

The A’s have now lost 20 of their last 21 games and are riding a nine-game losing streak—this coming shortly after an 11-game skid that preceded it.

The A’s opted to use an opener on Tuesday, with Justin Sterner taking the mound in the first inning. Sterner allowed a solo home run to Ryan Jeffers, giving the Twins an early lead.

Sterner was followed by Jeffrey Springs in the second. Springs had flashes of solid work but ultimately surrendered four runs on five hits across his outing. He also walked two and struck out seven.

Springs addressed the team’s struggles after the game. “Yeah, I mean it’s tough. Obviously, when you’re on a stretch like this, it feels like everything is magnified. I felt like overall we played a pretty good game—we just, you know, weren’t able to push any runs across.”

Hogan Harris finished the night on the mound for the A’s, throwing one and a third innings while allowing a run on two hits and issuing two walks. The A’s pitching wasn’t atrocious, but it wasn’t enough to keep them in the game given the lack of offensive support.

The A’s only run came in the fifth inning on a Jacob Wilson double that scored Lawrence Butler. Outside of that, the A’s managed just four other hits and went down quietly in the 6-1 loss.

The A’s are in total freefall. They are in desperate need of snapping out of this stretch, which has begun to spiral into historically bad territory. As much as this isn’t on Mark Kotsay or any one member of the coaching staff, you wonder how long this can go on before changes are made. I’m not calling for any moves, but it would be a disservice not to acknowledge what may be looming for the club.

The A’s will look to avoid a sweep on Thursday when they face the Twins at 12:35 p.m. in West Sacramento. Mitch Spence is expected to serve as the opener, likely followed by Gunnar Hogland. The Twins have yet to announce a starter.

With the loss, the A’s dropped to 23-40 on the season.

Buster shakes things up, Giants come back for biggest win of the season to beat Padres 6-5

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San Francisco Giants Jung Hoo (51) Lee celebrates Matt Chapman (right) home run in the bottom of the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jun 4, 2025 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

San Diego Padres 5 (35-25)

San Francisco Giants 6 (34-28)

Win: Sean Hjelle (1-0)

Loss: Jason Adam (1-3)

Save: Randy Rodriguez (1)

Time: 2:21

Attendance: 34,821

By Stephen Ruderman

Buster Posey shook things up, and it proved pivotal in multiple ways, as the Giants came back from down 5-0 to beat the Padres 6-5 in what was no doubt their biggest win of the season.

Prior to the game, LaMonte Wade Jr., the fifth-longest tenured Giant, who had been here in 2021, was designated for assignment. Wade was hitting .167, and with the fact that Bryce Elridge is on his way to the big leagues, Wade was destined to be the odd man out. Wednesday night was the night.

Catcher Sam Huff was also designated for assignment. Infielder Christian Koss was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento.

The Giants signed veteran first-baseman Dominic Smith to a one-year major league contract and added him to the roster. Smith spent time with the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds last season, and hit .233.

To complete the shakeup, Buster called up outfielder Daniel Johnson and catcher Andrew Knizer from Sacramento. Johnson and Knizer both have major league experience. Johnson started the season in the Mexican League with the Cliente de Durango, and signed a minor league deal with the Giants on May 2. Knizer signed a minor league deal on May 21.

Johnson is also a local kid, as he was born and grew up in Vallejo. He attended Jesse M. Bethel High School, where he hit .515 in his senior season in 2013.

Since their 24-14 start in which the offense clicked on all cylinders playing situational baseball, the Giants have gone 9-14, and the offense’s struggles from the last three seasons returned. After last night’s 3-2 loss in 10 innings, the Giants fell to just five games over .500 for the first time since April 8

After Farhan Zaidi tinkered with the roster on an almost-daily basis for the last three years, Buster has kept the roster mostly intact since Opening Day. However, with the recent struggles, moves were going to be made at some point. A shakeup like this can sometimes come across as rash, changes needed to be made.

Smith and Johnson would both be in the lineup, as Kyle Harrison took the ball for the Giants on a tranquil and foggy night at Oracle Park. Unfortunately, it looked like it was going to be another one of those nights for the Giants. The Padres struck early with a pair of runs on a two-out triple by Gavin Sheets in the top of the first inning.

The Giants’ offensive struggles continued. Padres’ starter Nick Pivetta retired 14 of the first 15 men he faced, including 13-straight from the bottom of the first through the fifth.

Harrison worked his way in and out of trouble, as he got through the second, third and fourth with the deficit still at two. Harrison would then have a very rough go of things in the top of the fifth.

The Padres had runners at first and second with one out for Jackson Merrill, who lined a double down the left field line to make it 3-0. Sheets, who knocked in the Padres’ first two runs with his triple in the top of the first, hit a sharp chopper off the top of Harrison’s back, and the ball ricocheted into shallow right field. Two runs scored, and the Padres had opened up a 5-0 lead.

Harrison left the game, and Bob Melvin brought in Sean Hjelle, who retired the next two. It was clearly not the best night for Harrison, who gave up five runs over four and two thirds innings. He gave up nine hits, and he did not pitch a single one, two, three inning.

The Giants have come back from a 5-0 deficit to win a game this season. Oddly enough, it was April 9, the last time the Giants came into a game just five games over .500. The Giants came back from down 5-0 to beat the Reds on Mike Yastrzemski’s walk-off splash hit in the bottom of the 10th.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Daniel Johnson, the new kid, fisted a base-hit to center to end Pivetta’s streak. Patrick Bailey then came up and hit a double to right-center, which scored Johnson, and put the Giants on the board.

Hjelle threw a one, two, three inning in the top of the sixth, and the Giants would put a real dent in San Diego’s lead in the bottom of the sixth. Jung Hoo Lee doubled with one out, and two batters later, Matt Chapman hit a two-run home run to the first row of the left field bleachers to make it 5-3.

It suddenly felt like April. The crowd was fired up, and so was the Giants’ dugout. Most importantly, the Giants had that aura again. There was a feeling in the Giants’ dugout that they were going to come back and win the game.

Hjelle threw another one, two, three inning in the top of the seventh, and he retired eight of the nine men he faced over two and two thirds innings. Hjelle was not going to get the most credit Wednesday night, but he quietly played a big part with his performance.

The Giants were ready to strike in the bottom of the seventh. Willy Adames drew a walk to start the inning, and after Johnson lined a base-hit to center, Pivetta was done. Jason Adam came in and struck out Bailey, and then Tyler Fitzgerald flipped a single to right-center to load the bases.

Heliot Ramos came up to the plate. Ramos took a slider down and away for ball one, and then he golfed a slider at the knees down the left field line to tie the game.

It was a brand-new game, and the Giants were still going. Lee hit a sacrifice fly to right-center, and Fitzgerald scored to give the Giants the lead.

Tyler Rogers was summoned for the top of the eighth, and he saw some action right away. Jose Iglesias led off the inning, and hit a chopper in between the mound and first base. Rogers dropped it, and then he slipped, but as he slipped, he recovered the ball and underhanded it to first to get the out.

It was a remarkable play by Rogers, who was a bit dinged up. He was checked on, but he stayed in the game to complete a scoreless inning.

Since Camilo Doval pitched Tuesday night, Melvin summoned his old closer, Ryan Walker to try and nail down the save Wednesday night. However, we would get our usual drama from Walker.

Tatis lined a base-hit to left-center to start the top of the ninth. Then Luis Arraez hit a shot out into the gap in right-center, but Johnson, playing in his first-ever game at Oracle Park, ran like the wind to take away extra bases and save the Giants’ lead.

Johnson’s catch especially paid huge dividends, because Manny Machado blooped a single to left to put runners at first and second. Melvin had seen enough, and he brought in Randy Rodriguez.

Rodriguez struck out Jackson Merrill, and then both runners pulled off a double steal to get to second and third. Gavin Sheets, who had knocked in four of the Padres’ five runs, was at the plate with a chance to put the Padres back ahead. Rodriguez got Sheets to pop out, and the Giants held on for their biggest win of the season.

Sean Hjelle was rewarded for his effort with the win. Jason Adam took the loss, and Randy Rodriguez picked up his first-career save.

And how about the local kid, Daniel Johnson. He went 2-for-4 and scored two of the Giants’ six runs, and his tremendous running catch in the top of the ninth single-handedly saved this game. It looks like Buster’s moves paid off in more ways than one.

The Giants improve to 34-28, and they can get a split in the series with a win Thursday afternoon. The Giants will have the right man on the mound in Robbie Ray (7-1, 2.43 ERA). Dylan Cease (1-4, 4.66 ERA) will go for San Diego.

First pitch will be at 12:45 p.m.

Major League Baseball News and Notes:

Rob Manfred dropped the bomb Wednesday. He told Evan Drellich of The Athletic that the Major League Baseball Joint Competition Committee will officially propose implementing an Automated Balls and Strikes challenge system next season. While it is not official, the majority of the committee is made up of owners, which makes it very likely we will see the ABS challenge system implemented next season.

Final Thoughts:

This was a big win, and this is the exact kind of win that gets a struggling team hot.

However, I am worried about the team for the first time. One of the biggest reasons the Giants have struggled is that they have abandoned the situational hitting that got them off to their 24-14 start, and have been relying on home runs again. I get that this is likely due to guys pressing at the plate, but if they can’t kick this habit soon, the Giants will risk falling out of contention.

That is why the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday night was so big. They kept the line moving, and the big hit was Heliot Ramos’ line-drive double down the left field line. That is the kind of baseball the Giants have to play to get out of this slump. If they can go back to consistently playing the kind of situational baseball that got them off to their 24-14 start, they will be just fine.

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva: Will releasing Wade, Koss and Huff make a difference for SF?

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San Francisco Giants’ LaMonte Wade Jr. reacts after striking out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Michael talk about how the impact of the release of LaMonte Wade, Christian Koss, and Sam Huff will have on the club?

#2 The Giants have acquired Dominic Smith infielder, outfielder Daniel Johnson outfielder, and catcher Andrew Knizner talk about Giants president Buster Posey and his expectations of them.

#3 The Giants offense had gone cold in recent weeks and Posey was looking for holes in the roster Wade had been hitting .167, one home run, 15 RBIs, 24 hits, Sam Huff was hitting .208, with two home runs, four RBIs, and 11 hits, and Christian Koss .219, 1 home run and had not hit in the Majors this season.

#4 In the last ten games the Giants have scored just 16 runs that comes out to 1.60 per game and have gone seven for 69 for a .101 average.

#5 Giants down 0-2 in this series with the Padres get after it tonight at Oracle Park starting pitchers for the visiting Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (6-2, ERA 2.74) and for the Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (1-1 ERA 2.51) Michael what your take on this pitching match up and can the Giants avoid getting swept tonight?

Michael Villanueva is MLB analyst for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Drop Game Two to Padres in 10 Innings 3-2

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San Diego Padres Manny Machado swings at a low pitch for a ninth inning two run RBI single against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Jun 3, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (33-28) led 2-0 going into the top of the ninth inning in their matchup with the San Diego Padres (35-24) at Oracle Park in San Francisco. They were on the verge of tying up this series when Manny Machado came to the plate with the bases loaded two outs and hit a double to tie up the game 2-2. San Diego scored a run in the tenth inning and that was the ball game 3-2. The terrific start on the mound for Landen Roupp had been wasted in a painful loss.

Game recap: It was a quiet start for both teams through the first two innings. In the bottom of the third inning, the Giants got some badly needed hits. Patrick Bailey got the inning going in the right direction hitting a double followed by a Heliot Ramos shot that left the park and the Giants had a 2-0 lead. After the home run, Wilmer Flores hit a single followed by a Matt Chapman double. They waved Flores home and he was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

Neither team would score a run in the next three innings and the Padres were still looking to get on the scoreboard. In the seventh inning with two outs, the Padres had the bases loaded but came up empty and San Francisco had held on going into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Roupp was relieved in the seventh inning by Erik Miller. Roupp pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing only four hits and two walks with five strikeouts. He had a terrific game now with a 3.18 ERA.

This game went into the eighth inning with the score remaining 2-0 in favor of the Giants. Manny Machado started off the inning with a deep hit to the right field followed by a Jackson Merrill single and the Padres had runners on first and second with no outs.

Gavin Sheets hit into a double play and the Giants were one out away from getting out of the inning. San Francisco got the third out and this game went into the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Padres were down to their last three at bats in the top of the ninth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs Manny Machado came to the plate, the Padres last hope. Machado came through tying up the game at 2 apiece hitting a double. San Francisco got out of the inning and once again another game going into extra innings and the Giants having to fight for the win after leading for eight innings

With two outs in the tenth inning the Padres Jake Cronenworth singled Jackson Merrill home from third base giving San Diego a 3-2 lead. The game went into the bottom of the tenth inning needing a San Francisco run to tie or a couple of runs to go home.

It just didn’t go the Giants way. They were unable to score in the inning and suffered a painful loss despite a solid start from Roupp on the mound. San Francisco relief pitcher Camilo Duval came in to close and did not have his best stuff and again the offense struggled with only six hits to San Diego’s ten hits. The final was 3-2, the Padres taking a 2-0 series lead.

Game notes: After losing 1-0 in extra innings Monday in game one, the Giants were back on the field for game two of their series with the Padres Tuesday. Not a run was scored by either team through nine innings Monday and it was the Padres who finally broke through in the tenth inning to win this pitcher’s duel.

San Francisco had their opportunities loading the bases in the latter innings but came away empty in the shutout. The Giants dropped Tuesday night’s game to the Padres after holding a 2-0 lead only to see that vanish when the Padres tied it up 2-2 later to lose it 3-2 and are now down 0-2 with the Padres having a shot at sweeping the series on Wednesday night.

Game three will get underway Wednesday with first pitch at 6:45pm PDT. Starting pitcher for the Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (6-2 ERA 2.74) for the Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (1-1 ERA 2.51)

Make that 19 of 20 loses, adds to 8 game skid; Two four-spots lead the Twins to 10-3 win over A’s

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Sacramento A’s outfielder Denzel Clarke (1) reaches up to make the catch as the A’s would wind up losing their eighth straight loss against the Minnesota Twins at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Tue Jun 3, 2025 (Oakland A’s X photo)

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Sutter Health Park

West Sacramento, California

Minnesota Twins 10 (33-27)

Sacramento Athletics 3 (23-39)

Win: Pablo Lopez (5-3)

Loss: Jacob Lopez (0-4)

Time: 3:01

Attendance: 8,487

By Stephen Ruderman

WEST SACRAMENTO–The A’s have now lost 19 of their last 20, as the Twins put the game away with a pair of four-run innings late on Tuesday night, and won by a final of 10-3 at Sutter Health Park home of the Swinging A’s.

Let’s be honest: this series is a completely-lopsided matchup on paper. The Twins have been one of the hottest teams in Baseball over the last month. The A’s? Well, they came into this series having lost 17 of their previous 18 games. It then became 18 out of 19 when the Twins took the series opener 10-4 last night.

Mark Kotsay turned to Grant Holman to be the opener Tuesday night, and Holman did his job. He started the game nicely with a one two three top of the first inning, and then he was lifted with one out in the top of the second after allowing a walk and a base-hit. Jacob Lopez then came in and retired the next two to end the inning.

The A’s got to work against Twins’ starter Pablo Lopez in the bottom of the first. Lawrence Butler led off the inning with a double, and Brent Rooker got him in with a base-hit the other way to right field. The A’s had all the momentum they needed, but Lopez settled down and kept the damage to just a run.

Lopez threw a scoreless bottom of the second, but the A’s were able to manufacture another run in the bottom of the third. Tyler Soderstrom hit a triple to left with one out, and Shane Langeliers got him in with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0.

Will Castro put the Twins on the board with a home run to left with one out in the top of the fourth. Jacob Lopez pitched through the rest of the fourth, and he threw a one, two, three top of the fifth.

However, the Twins would take the lead with a pair of home runs off Jacob Lopez in the top of the sixth. Trevor Larnach led off the inning with a home run to the grass in right to tie it. Then two batters later, Castro gave the Twins the lead with his second home run of the night. This one was a line-drive home run to left that barely got out.

The Twins were not done yet. Brooks Lee reached on an infield hit with two outs, and then Royce Lewis walked. Kotsay then pulled Lopez for Osvaldo Bido, who walked Harrison Bader to load the bases. Byron Buxton then came up, and he lined a base-hit up the middle to knock in a pair. It ended up being a four-run top of the sixth for the Twins, who now held a 5-2 lead.

Pablo Lopez ended up going five innings for Minnesota, and Cole Sands was summoned for the bottom of the sixth. The A’s looked to respond, as Langeliers led off the inning with a double. The A’s were able to manufacture the run and get him in to make it 5-3.

However, the Twins would blow it open and put the game away with another four spot in the top of the seventh. Minnesota added one more in the top of the eighth to make it 10-3, and the A’s offense went down without a whimper.

Pablo Lopez got the win, and Jacob Lopez took the loss.

The A’s are now 23-39. Despite their halfway-decent start, the A’s have now lost 19 of their last 20, and they are suddenly on pace for their third-straight 100-loss season. They are on pace to go 60-102 to be exact.

The A’s will look to get a win Tuesday night against Twins starter Zebby Matthews (0-, 6.43 ERA) in the third game of the series Wednesday night. A’s manager Mark Kotsay has yet to announce his starter.

First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: De La Cruz pays tribute to late sister after home run; Suspect in Astros McCullers threats apologizes; plus more news

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Cincinnati Reds hitter Elly De La Cruz slugs a sixth inning home run at Wrigley Field on Sun Jun 1, 2025 and later dedicates it to his late sister Genelis who passed away in the Dominican Republic. (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Cincinnati Reds star Elly De la Cruz didn’t need to play on Sunday and no one would have blamed him if he didn’t. Cruz’s older sister Genelis De La Cruz Sanchez passed away in the Dominican Republic after suffering a number of health issues. Cruz hitting against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field tag a deep drive to left field and rounded the bases pointing heavenward and giving the heart sign. Elly could also be a candidate for the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame if he continues to play at the level he has that’s in the future.

#2 A drunk intoxicated fan overseas sent threats to Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers and had also threatened his two kids the Houston Police announced on Monday. The suspect in the case has not been charged as of yet but police have indentified as overseas gambler who admitted that to police he gambled on an Astros game and lost and sent the threats to McCullers. The suspect says he apologized to McCullers and his family for making the threats. Charges for the threats are being considered.

#3 You covered them you knew them when you worked at the Seattle Mariners pitcher Randy Johnson who wore number 51 and Ichiro Suzuki who both wore number 51 will have their numbers retired by the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro wrote to the Big Unit if he could wear number 51 when he joined the Mariners and Johnson gave his permission. Talk about both players as you saw them when you covered the Mariners in your television days there.

#4 Amaury talk about the ejection of the Tampa Bay Rays Taylor Walls who tapped on his helmet after being called out on strikes on Sunday at Daikin Park in Houston by home plate umpire Nick Lentz after being ejected from the game Walls went ballistic and charged at Wentz several times only to be restrained by the coaches and a couple teammates before being led to the clubhouse.

#5 Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said after designated hitter Mike Trout had returned from his knee injury and had successful days on Friday and Saturday at the plate but was benched Sunday as Wash called it for taking a break it was not a reflection on his left knee injury. Expect Trout to get a day off every other two days as the Angels approach his return cautiously.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

@Central Park Fremont – Fremont CA

http://goaquaadventure.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria: A’s drop 7th straight game shelled by Twins 10-4 at Sutter Health

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Sacramento A’s left fielder Drew Avans (35) who scored a run and got a hit against the Minnesota Twins on Mon Jun 2, 2025 is seen here preparing for the game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento (Sacramento A’s X photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 The Minnesota Twins didn’t waste anytime in the top of the second inning scoring six runs that was the bulk of their ten run total against the Sacramento A’s to open the three game set against the A’s at Sutter Health Park.

#2 The loss Monday night represents Sacramento’s 38th of the season against 23 wins. The A’s are on a seven game losing streak and have lost 17 of their last 18 games. Their home record is an abysmal 9-20. The A’s are now ten games out of first place considering all their loses if by a miracle’s chance they get hot they can cut that deficit.

#3 A’s starting pitcher Luis Severino pitched 5.2 innings allowing nine hits and eight runs striking out only one batter Severino was absolutely shelled dropping his won loss record to 1-5.

#4 The A’s Lawrence Butler continues to hit with some consistency on Monday night he went 2-2 with two runs, two hits and three RBIs. It wasn’t enough but Butler like teammates Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker continue to go through their paces.

#5 Starting pitchers for Tuesday night’s game for the Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (4-3 ERA 2.75) and for the A’s starter Grant Holman (4-1 ERA 4.74). First pitch 7:00pm at Sutter Health Park.

Tony Renteria does the A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants waste strong performance by Webb and strand 12 on base in rough 1-0 10-inning loss to Padres

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San Diego Padres hitter Jose Iglesias slugs a sacrifice fly that scores teammate Jake Cromwell in the tenth inning for the game’s only run against catcher Patrick Bailey and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Jun 2, 2025 (AP photo)

Monday, June 2, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

San Diego Padres 1 (34-24)

San Francisco Giants 0 (33-27)

Win: Robert Suarez (1-1)

Loss: Ryan Walker (1-3)

Time: 2:51

Attendance: 35,680

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants left 12 men on base Monday night, and Logan Webb’s eight shutout innings were all for naught, as the combination of wasted opportunities and a little bit of Manfredball led to a 10-inning 1-0 win for the Padres to start the homestand.

After a torrid 24-14 start over the first six weeks of the season, the Giants’ offense has collapsed over the last three and a half weeks. Instead of playing situational baseball and stealing bases like they did over the first six weeks, the Giants have relied on home runs, which is exactly what got them into trouble the last two years.

Thankfully, the Giants have still been able to win some games, and have not fallen below six games over .500. It has been in large part due to their superb pitching staff, and possibly the best bullpen in the game.

After getting swept out of Detroit by the juggernaut Tigers last week, the Giants were able to come out of Miami with two out of three over the subpar Marlins. Monday night, the Giants returned home to begin a four-game set against the San Diego Padres.

Like the Giants, the Padres got off to a hot start, but have sputtered as of late. In fact, this looked to be an evenly-matched series.

The Giants would send their ace, Logan Webb, to the mound in the series opener on a brisk and cool night on the shores of McCovey Cove. Webb started off the night by throwing just nine pitches in a one, two, three top of the first inning.

Stephen Kolek took the ball for the Padres in his sixth start of the season. His first two starts after being called up from Triple-A El Paso were great. He threw five and a third shutout innings against the Pirates at PNC Park on May 4, and then he threw a complete game shutout in Denver against the Rockies six days later.

However, Kolek’s last three starts were another story. In his last three starts, he has given up 15 earned runs over 16 and a third innings. Either Kolek would be the perfect man for the Giants’ offense to pounce on and start to get hot again, or the Giants’ struggling offense to help Kolek settle down a bit.

Unfortunately, it would somewhat be the latter. I say somewhat, because Kolek had a hard time getting his feet on the ground early, as he ran into trouble in the bottom of the first and second.

The Giants put runners at the corners with two outs in the bottom of the first, but Mike Yastrzemski struck out to end the inning. The Giants then loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the second on a rally for absolutely free. However, Tyler Fitzgerald then grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Heliot Ramos grounded into an inning-ending double play.

It was two more wasted opportunities for a struggling Giants’ offense. Kolek was on the ropes twice, but the Giants bailed him out both times.

Fortunately for the Giants, the Padres’ offense couldn’t come through either, as Webb wiggled his way out of trouble in the second and third.

There was a little bit of drama in the early innings. LaMonte Wade was hit in the hand by Kolek in the bottom of the second and had to leave the game. Wade was x-rayed after the game, and he only had a contusion and no broken bones. Webb hit Elias Diaz in the top of the third, and after Kolek hit Wilmer Flores in the hand in the bottom of the third, Wilmer had a few choice words for the Padres’ young right-hander.

It used to be that the home plate umpire could take charge and issue warnings. However, since 2020, Major League Baseball has had its umpires gather as a crew before issuing warnings. The umpires all gathered after Wilmer was hit, but with Home Plate Umpire Ryan Wills’ inability to take charge, that exacerbated the situation.

I couldn’t tell if warnings were issued. I assume they were, because when Wills and First Base Umpire and Crew Chief Lance Barksdale went over to talk to Padres Manager Mike Shildt, there was barking from the Padres’ dugout.

It also unnecessarily delayed the game, as it took the umpies a couple of minutes to sort out. If Wills had been able to take charge and issue warnings himself on the spot, there would not have been a delay, and there probably would not have been any barking from the Padres’ dugout either.

The benches did not clear, and the game would finish without any further incident. However, in a four-game series between two division rivals, things can get heated, so don’t be surprised if something happens later in this series.

After Wilmer was hit, Kolek settled down to throw a pair of one, two, three innings in the fourth and fifth. Meanwhile, Webb settled down to throw a one, two, three inning in the top of the fourth, but he had to work through another jam in the top of the fifth.

Kolek ended up going five and two thirds Monday night, and he gave up just three hits.

Webb ended up going eight, matching his longest outing of the season. Webb gave up six hits over his eight shutout innings. He didn’t walk anybody, and he struck out seven.

The Giants wasted two more golden opportunities in the seventh and eighth, and after going down scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, it was time for some Manfredball!

Ryan Walker was on the mound for the top of the 10th. Tyler Wade—no relation to LaMonte Wade—bunted the Manfred runner, Jake Cronenworth, over to third base. Jose Iglesias then got Cronenworth in with a sacrifice fly to left field for the game’s first run. Walker threw just seven pitches in what was a one, two, three inning, but he was still in line for the loss.

The Padres had a 1-0 lead going to the bottom of the tenth. Robert Suarez, who had pitched the bottom of the ninth, was back out, and Jung Hoo Lee was the ghost runner for the Giants.

Christian Koss bunted Lee over to third. Matt Chapman then hit a sharp one-hopper, but it was right to Iglesias at third, and Chapman was retired for the second out.

The Giants last hope would be Jerar Encarnacion, who was making his season debut. Encarnacion impressed by hitting five home runs in 35 games for the Giants last season, but he fractured his left hand diving for a ball during Spring Training.

In his 2025 debut, Encarnacion was thrown into a big spot with a chance to be the hero. The count quickly went to 0-2. Encarnacion fouled one away, and made perfect contact with a 101-mile-per-hour sinker and hit a bullet to the right side. Unfortunately, it was right into the glove of Padres’ first base-man Luis Arraez, and the game was over. The Padres won 1-0.

The Giants went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and they left 12 men on base. This was also the Giants’ 15th-straight game in which they scored four runs or fewer. The last time that happened was in 1965 with an offense that featured three hall-of-famers. I don’t know about you, but I see that as a good omen.

Robert Suarez got the win, and Ryan Walker got the loss despite his only action being a seven-pitch one, two, three inning. Manfredball strikes again!!!

The Giants fall to 33-27, and they will just have to try and bounce back Tuesday night. Landen Roupp (3-4, 3.54 ERA) will be on the bump for the Giants. Ryan Bergert (1-0, 0.00 ERA), who has appeared in just four games and hasn’t made a single start, will take the ball for San Diego.

First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m.

Giants News and Notes:

To make room for Jerar Encarnacion, Luis Matos was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento after hitting what proved to be the game-winning home run on Sunday in Miami.

That’s the harsh reality of the beautiful game of Baseball. You can hit what proves to be the game-winner one day, but if you’re hitting .167 on the season, you could very well be sent down to the minors the next.

Ballers late innings runs payoff in 9-6 win over Jackalopes

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The Oakland Ballers scored twice in the eighth and three times in the ninth to cash in late in the game to defeat the Grand Junction Jackalopes Sun Jun 1, 2025 at Raimondi Park in West Oakland (Oakland Ballers photo)

Grand Junction Jackalopes (3-9) 000 310 200 6 12 5

Oakland Ballers (7-5) 130 000 23x 9 12 0

Time: 2:29

Attendance: 2,367

Sunday, June 1, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–It’s been said that history doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme. Last Sunday’s 9-6 Ballers triumph over the Jackalopes bore many resemblances to last evening’s 12-10 defeat at the hands of the visitors.

Both games featured an eighth inning, come from behind rally by the B’s. There was, of course, a noticeable difference; in the second of the two games, the sixth and final encounter of the series, the hometown team didn’t just turn a rout into a nail biter; it converted an impending loss into a well earned victory.

There was no fire visible from the stands today, but the scoreboard’s malfunctioning gave an encore performance. The Jackalopes once more committed five errors while the B’s defence, although not flawless, wasn’t charged with any errors.

For something new and completely different, second baseman Nick Leehey, fresh from his graduation from UC Davis, signed with the Ballers and made his professional debut. He fielded well but went 0-4 with three strikeouts, all swinging.

Each team used five pitchers. Right hander Zach St. Pierre started for Oakland and lasted four innings, during which he threw 66 pitches to 20 batters and yielded three runs, all of them earned, on seven hits and two walks while fanning two.

He was followed by Caleb Franzen (three runs, all earned), three hits and a walk, a pitch count of 34 in 2-1/3 innings; Connor Richardon made a cameo appearance of 2/3 of an inning and wasn’t charged with any runs, but the last two runs attributed to Franzen were one that Richardson had inherited from Franzen to score. Brody Eglite threw a 13 pitch perfect eighth to earn the win and now is 1-0). Connor Sullivan notched his mowed the Jackaloopes down, one, two, three in top of the ninth to earn his third save of 2025.

Oakland opened the scoring in a scrappy but not particularly confidence inspiring way. Tremayne Cobb, still struggling to regain his mojo at the plate—although I can’t think of a player who wouldn’t want to have his post game BA of .404—drew a leadoff walk.

The Jacks’ third baseman, Robin Fernández, committed an error that allowed the next batter, Pat Monteith, to take first while Cobb moved up 90 feet, into scoring position. A full count walk to Davis Drewek made the basepaths FOB (Full of B’s), to put new wine into the old bottle of Red Barber’s way of categorizing three on base Brooklyn Dodgers.

Cam Bufford hit into a 6-4-3 double play, plating Cobb, and the Ballers went ahead, 1-0, without recording a hit or run batted in.

They added another three runs to their lead in the next episode. Consecutive singles by Tyler Lozano, Daryll Bogs II, and Cobb clogged the basepaths. Monteith blooped a Texas League single to right that drove in Buggs and Lozano and advanced Cobb to third. Cobb came home when Drewek, the next B to come to the plate, singled to left.

In their half of the fourth, Grand Junction removed any complacency the Ballers and their fans might have begun to harbor. The Jackalopes cut their deficit by three runs on an RBI single by Isaac Núñez, a bases loaded walk to Luis Hernández, and a sacrifice fly to center by Zeb Roos in the next inning, they completely wiped out Oakland’s lead. Evan Scavotto doubled with two down and scored on Mason Minzey’s single to right against Caleb Franzen, who had relieved St. Pierre at the start of the frame.

Franzen kept the visitors off the board until the top of the seventh. With one away, he walked Kendall Foster, who reached third on a single to right by Robin Fernández. Exit Franzen, enter Conner Richardson. Scavotto singled to left, and Minzey’s doubled to the same field. Both runs were charged to Franzen. More important, Grand Junction now was ahead, 6-4.

Evan Massie had started for the Jacks and pitched decently. With his team’s resurgence, he stood to be the winning pitcher. He should have stood in bed. (Thank you, Dizzy Dean). Aydan Alger lasted 2/3 of an inning and coughed up the lead thanks to singles by Monteith and Drewek and a two out single by Dannie Harris IV that caused Alger to get the hook. Another single by Christian Almanza, this one off Tai Atkins, and Oakland was back on top, this time to stay.

A trio of Jackalopes hit for extra bases; Zeb Roos, Evan Scavotto, and Mason Minzey connected for a two bagger apiece. None of the Ballers had an extra base hit, but four of them had a multihit afternoon. Monteith, Drewek, and Buggs formed the trio each member of which contributed a pair of safeties; Harris went three for five and drove in three runs.

The win left Oakland tied with three other teams for fourth place in the overall Pioneer Baseball League standings. The team is scheduled to fly Monday morning at 8:00 o’clock to Portland. They’ll bus from there to Flathead County, MT, where they’ll take on the GlacierRange Riders, of the teams with whom they’re deadlocked for a six game series.

Next on the itinerary are three mid-week games against the Missoula Paddleheads. Then, it’s on to Ogden to battle the Raptors on Friday the 13th through Sunday the 16th. After a brief day of rest, they’ll return, as Al Jolson predicted, weary at heart, back where they started from, back in their own back yard to duke it out once more in a six game set-to with Grand Junction.